Fence-post



J. D. 00X.

FENCE POST.

(N0 Model.)

Patented Apr. 20, 18.86.

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PATENT VFFICE.

JOHN D. COX, or WINFIELD, MISSOURI.

FENCE-POST.

QPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,292, dated April 20, 1886.

Application filed June 22, 1885. Serial No. 169,392. (No model.) v

IO Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fence provided with my improved post. Fig. 2 is an enlargedperspective view of my fence-post. Fig. 2 is a front view thereof. Fig. 2 is a view of the flat side of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view showing means for fastening the wire into the post,and Fig. 4 is a transverse section at 4 4 of same. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a modification. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the fastening used with this modification, and Fig.

7 is a detail side elevation showing part of a post in elevation with the wire fastened in the notch.

My invention relates to certain improvements in metal fence-posts to support barb and other fence wire; and my invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims. 7

Referring to the drawings, similar letters of reference in the various figures indicate like parts.

A represents the metal post, formed with the shoulders A above the drive-point, that rest on the ground-plate I) when the post is driven home.

A represents the upper part of the drivepoint, itssides formed in line with the post above; A the tapering blade of the drivepoint, whose sides are at a right angle to the line of the post above, (for reasons hereinafter described;) and A. is the sharp point of the said blade. (See Figs. 2, 2, and 2".)

A post thus construe ted will be seen to be flat on one side, A from end to end, except 4 5 the entering point, and flat on the other side,

A, from end to end, except at the lower portion, from which the blade A projects. The upper part, A of the drive-point has rounded edges A, and the upper part of the blade has rounded top A B represents notches in the edge of the post for the reception of the fence-wire. (See Figs. 1, 2, 2, and 2".)

B is the spur that rises in front of the notches and helps to keep the wire and its fastening wedge G in position. (See Figs.'3 and 4.)

G 0 represent clamping devices for holding the wire in its seat in the notch, which may be used conjointly or separately, one, C, as seen in Fig. 3, representing a soft-iron wedge that. fits in the notch above the wire'and fastens it in its seat, and the other, C, as in the modification shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, when simple horizontal notches B are formed in the front edge of the posts,is awire loop that, passing round the back of the post, reaches forward and embraces the wire in the notch by its hooked ends 0" fastening it in its seat.

D is a ground-plate that fits tight up to shoulders A on the post, allowing said post to be driven down to a given distance in the ground, and no farther, (shown in its normal position on the ground in the section of fence seen in Fig. 1,) and slightly lowered from its place, as seen in Fig. 2, to more clearly show the shoulders.

D are flanges at the ends of the ground-plate that enter the ground and assist in stiffening the fence, and, lastly, E respresents the fencewire of any desired make, either plain or barbed.

I am aware that wrought-iron posts have been made with projecting spurs that are clinched upon and fasten the wire; but great inconvience, of necessity, is experienced in loosening the wire when it is required to be 'restretched or repaired.

Since the new processes have revolutionized the manufacture of cast-steel and reduced largely the cost of production, steel appears certain to supersede wrought iron in the manufacture of metal fence-posts at less cost, and yet be far more durable and efficient; but it is evident if steel posts are used other fastenings for the wire must be devised than that of clinching the spur before alluded to over the same.

The soft-iron wedge (shown in Fig. 3 as fastening the wire on its seat) is readily driven home to its place. by a few taps of a small mallet, and loosened in the same way when the wire needs restretching or repairs, and the vertical spur in front of the notch secures both wire and wedge therein.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5, (i, and 7 straight horizontal slots or .notches for seating the wire enter the front edge of the post, and C are wire loops (see Fig. 6) that, passing around the back of the post, reach forward and embrace the wire in the notch, fastening it in its seat.

I do not confine myself to any sized groundplate. The one shown is four inches square, with one-and-one-half-ineh flanges; but they may be made larger with deeper flanges for use on soft mellow soils. The said plate may be made of sheet metal or cast, as preferred.

The ground-plate D is applied on the post in the course-of manufacture before the forming of the blade, (when made of wrought material,) as I am then able to seat it while ex panded by heat, as otherwise I could not get a sufliciently tight fit to firmly withstand the strain on the fence 01" a prairie blizzard. \Vhen I make the post of caststeel, the groundplate will then of course be solid with the rest of the post.

The tapering blade A on the drivepoint of the post (see Fig. 2) has its broad face presentation at a right angle to that of the rest of the post above, being on line with the course of the fence. It presents (instead of a cuttingedge) a broadside against the subsoil in the most favorable direction to prevent the drivepoint of the post from cutting its way through the ground,as the post above bears against the ground-plate or surface of the ground as a fulcrum when the fence is under a heavy strain or stress from the force of the wind against it; also, from the varied presentation ofthe broadside of said blade to that of the upper portion of the drive'point, it acts as an anchor for the post to prevent its being lifted from its bed by frost or otherwise.

I do not claim a post having a drive-point formed with upper and lower portions twisted at right angles to each other, as this is a construction incompatible with my invention. In my invention the point is without a twist, so that the post is driven straight into the ground without turning from the position in which it is placed for driving.

I claim as my invention-- 1. A fence-post formed with a pointed extremity, A, a flat side, A extending from the top to the extremity, a blade, A, extending at right angles from the post at the opposite side over the extremity, a flat side, A", extending from the top to the blade, and notches for the wires, substantially as shown and described.

2. A metal fence-post formed with a poiu ted extremity, A, a drive-pointconsisting of upper portion, A", tapering blade A atright angles to the upper portion, and rounded edges A A and rounded top A between the upper portion and blade, a flat side, A, extending from the top of the post to the extremity, a flat side, A, extending from the top of the post to the blade, shoulders A. A in the edges of the post above the upper portion of the drive point, and notches for the reception of the wire in the edge of the post, substantially as shown and described.

3. A fence-post formed with a pointed extremity, A, a flat side, A, extending from the top to the extremity, a tapering blade, A", extending at right angles from the post at the opposite side over the extremity, a flat side, A, extending from the top to the blade, shoulders A A, and notches for the wires, in combination with a plate, D, having flanges D, substantially as shown and described.

JOHN D. COX.

In presence ol-- BENJN. A. KNIGHT, SAML. KNIGHT. 

